Bruins vs. Coyotes Odds
| Bruins Odds | -330 |
| Coyotes Odds | +260 |
| Over/Under | 6 |
| Time | 9 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
The Boston Bruins travel to Arizona as massive road favorites, laying more than three dollars on the moneyline. This makes sense, as the Bruins are one of the stronger teams in hockey while the Coyotes once again find themselves toward the bottom of the league (sorry Yotes fans).
Can the Bruins take care of business, or can Arizona play spoiler at home?
Boston Bruins
It is no secret that the Bruins have a strong offensive unit, spearheaded by Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, and Patrice Bergeron. The best thing the Bruins have done all season was splitting that line into two and shifting Pastrnak down to the second line, as their offense has become much more balanced and efficient since doing so.
This season, Boston's offense ranks 12th in 5-on-5 Expected Goals For per 60 minutes (xGF), first in Shots On Net percentage, and sixth in Power Play percentage. The Bruins have had some high-scoring affairs as of late, reaching or going over six total goals in 11 of their last 14 games.
Boston's offense will need to show up tonight with Tuukka Rask being the game's projected starter in net. This is not Rask slander, but he is just not in form yet as this will be only his fifth start since returning to the roster this season.
In those four starts thus far, Tuuka has only posted a 0.844 SV% and would rank 31st among starting goaltenders in 5-on-5 Goals Saved Above Expected per 60 minutes (GSAx). The average total goals scored between both teams in Rask's four starts this season is 6.5.
Arizona Coyotes
An obvious bad counterpart for a dynamite offense is a poor defense, which is exactly what the Coyotes have. This season, the Coyotes rank 19th in 5-on-5 Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (xGA), 26th in Shots Against On Net percentage, and 31st in Penalty Killing percentage.
Their defense will be even worse without Karel Vejmelka there to bail them out as he has done multiple times this year. Backup goaltender Scott Wedgewood will be tending twine tonight.
Wedgewood has not been good this year, as he bas a 0.893 SV% and would rank 28th in 5-on-5 Goals Saved Above Expected per 60 minutes (GSAx) among starting goaltenders. Wedgewood has struggled even more recently, allowing four or more goals in five of his last seven starts.
Just like the Bruins, the Coyotes have found themselves in high-scoring contests as well. The total goals scored has reached or gone over six total goals in nine of their last 15 games.
Bruins vs. Coyotes Pick
I think the Bruins will most likely get at least five goals by themselves, so we just need one or two from the Coyotes to hit the over. While I think the Bruins will win and cover the puck line, I think the over is a safer play in case Rask has another horrible performance in net.
Pick: Over 6 (-110) | Play up to (-120)
